New Member In Belfast

[Cocotte]

Well, I've been creating a general prep for the past year on small nick-naks here and there, water purification tablets/wind proof matches/unwanted meds/tools & books. For food stores I've kept it the same as I learnt years ago in Uni, buy it now whilst you have the resources and make sure it lasts.

I have yet to establish a bug out bag or location that I am content with so I'm only really prepared for a bug in with a standard of 1 month's food without electricity, 3 with.
Being unemployed has damaged the stash but then again, it's there to be eaten when times are tougher (although it was meant for a serious situation).

When anyone asks me why I'm prepping, I've found the best answer is simply to state "Zombie Apocalypse" with a straight face, that stops the further questions such as "what do you have?/where do you keep it all?" that could backfire badly on me when the time comes.
Real reason for prepping? 2010 had a winter 10oC colder than usual here leading to a freeze that left roads blocked, shops running out of goods, water pipes burst with drinking water being brought to community centres in trucks for people to fill up on.
Adverse weather conditions have happened once and can easily happen again. Global economic turmoil leads to a rise in diplomatic tensions. And one key element of prepping is collection of essentials for minor costs (growing your own/bargain buys/cutting down on waste), very useful for a time when the cost of living is skyrocketing.

For any Belfast Preppers reading this, one of my key tips is to visit the Chinese supermarkets, £18 for 25kg rice, up to 40% less than supermarket's cheapest own brand large bags.

[The Ace of Spades]

Hello. Welcome to UKP.

Never rule out the possibility of Zombies.

Ace.

[nickdutch]

A wize move. And being in Northern Ireland with rising tensions, probably an even better move too.

Plenty of useful information to be had here

[bigstan]

Hi welcome to the forum I am a Belfast man myself but now living in sunny Comber its good to see more people from n.ireland joining the forum
big stan

[st3vi3]

Hello ha welcome, im prob about 1hr from you, cookstown direction. Great intro seem to be well on ur way with preps. Were is this rice deal at seems a great deal?? Kinda know belfast. Hope it not to rough up your way.

[Cocotte]

There's riots every few months, most of them caused by politicians trying to grab a few more votes (like this one) unless it's summer time. Funny thing of this one, the Alliance party are getting a lot of coverage in the news such as interviews and quotes yet they're the ones who kicked it all off with a pointless act. But I digress.

I haven't ruled out zombies, that's why there's a Fubar hanging next to the door. Them and neighbours. Might have to use the excuse "I thought they were bitten".

There are 2 major Chinese warehouses in Belfast, one off the Ormeau Road city centre side of the river.
and the other, Camsung, just off the Lisburn Road (first left after Tescos heading into the city). Each have their own benefits over the other, personally I prefer Camsung. I bought a 25kg bag of rice there in August 2011 and still got a fair bit left all in perfect nick, just keeping it wrapped in a heavy bin bag in a warm, dry cupboard. I haven't tried the smaller Asian markets that have sprouted up in Donegall Pass or Sandy Row.

[tigs]

welcome to the forum

[st3vi3]

Gives me a good reason to visit belfast now top off the rice and see what else they have, thanx for the info really usefull to me. Happy prepping and watch the zombies, sometimes I think they are here already when you just look at the world

[Cocotte]

If anyone is heading to Belfast or lives in the city and wants industrial quantities of fine sawdust, I have a friend who's trying to get rid of his waste from a flooring business.
Some has varnished parts to it so purity might be a minor issue but here are some uses:
Gasification
Insulation
Producing methanol (from a still)
Animal bedding
Making MDF style wood molds
Mix with parafin/wax for home made firelighters
Cleaning oil/grease spills
Packing material (if object is sealed in a bag)
Used on waterlogged/muddy paths
Make a sawdust stove

Send me a PM, he's desperate to get rid of the stuff for free.